Dallas, Texas, Aug 8, 2008 / 11:07 am
At least 14 people died and 40 people were injured when a charter bus carrying a Vietnamese Catholic group to an annual pilgrimage slammed onto its side and then skidded off a freeway overpass in Texas early on Friday. As Texas Catholics mourn the dead and the wounded, questions have arisen about the bus company’s compliance with state and federal regulations.
The charter bus, which was carrying 55 people from Houston to Carthage, Missouri for the Marian Days festival, overturned near Sherman, Texas, about 65 miles north of Dallas.
Officials are still investigating the accident but it is known that the right front tire of the bus blew out, after which the bus hit a guardrail and then slid down a 12-foot embankment, the Houston Chronicle says. Alcohol is not believed to have been a factor in the crash but investigators reportedly have not ruled out driver fatigue.
Sherman Fire Chief Jeff Jones said ten people were airlifted to hospitals and the rest of the passengers were taken to hospitals by ambulance, many with serious injuries. According to police, 12 died at the scene and another two died at a Dallas hospital, while many other passengers are in critical condition.